Othello Translation
Act 5, Scene 1

Here, stand behind this bulk, straight will he come. Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home. Quick, quick! Fear nothing. I’ll be at thy elbow. It makes us, or it mars us. Think on that, And fix most firm thy resolution.

IAGO

Here, stand behind this wall. He'll come soon. Keep your sword unsheathed, and then drive it into him. Quick, quick! Don't be scared. I'll be at your side. We win or lose everything with this. Think about that, and be firmly resolved for the task.

RODERIGO

Be near at hand, I may miscarry in ’t.

RODERIGO

Be nearby, since I might mess this up.

IAGO

Here, at thy hand. Be bold, and take thy stand.

IAGO

I'll be here, right by your side. Be bold, and make a stand.

Withdraws

IAGO steps back.

RODERIGO

I have no great devotion to the deed And yet he hath given me satisfying reasons. 'Tis but a man gone. Forth, my sword: he dies.

RODERIGO

I don't have any great dedication to do this deed, but Iago has given me satisfactory reasons to do it. It's just one man to kill. Go forth, my sword: he will die.

IAGO

(aside) I have rubbed this young quat almost to the sense, And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other, Every way makes my gain. Live Roderigo, He calls me to a restitution large Of gold and jewels that I bobbed from him As gifts to Desdemona. It must not be. If Cassio do remain He hath a daily beauty in his life That makes me ugly. And besides, the Moor May unfold me to him—there stand I in much peril. No, he must die. But so, I hear him coming.

IAGO

[To himself ] I rubbed this young pimple as much as I can, and he's getting angry. Now, whether he kills Cassio or Cassio kills him, or they each kill each other, it's all good for me. If Roderigo lives, he will make me pay him back for all the gold and jewels I took from him as gifts for Desdemona. I can't have that. If Cassio survives, his beauty every day makes me seem ugly by comparison. And besides, the Moor might tell him what I've said about him—that would be very dangerous for me. No, he must die. But I hear him coming.

Enter CASSIO

CASSIO enters.

RODERIGO

I know his gait, ’tis he.—Villain, thou diest!

RODERIGO

I know his walk. It's him. Villain, time for you to die!

Thrusts at CASSIO

RODERIGO thrusts his sword at CASSIO.

CASSIO

That thrust had been mine enemy indeed But that my coat is better than thou know’stI will make proof of thine.

CASSIO

That thrust would have been quite bad for me indeed, except that my coat is thicker than you realize. Now I'll put your coat to the test.

Two or three groan. 'Tis heavy night,These may be counterfeits. Let’s think ’t unsafe To come in to the cry without more help.

LODOVICO

Two or three people are groaning. It's the middle of the night—they might be trying to trick us. Let's not rush in unsafely by ourselves, without any other help.

RODERIGO

Nobody come? Then shall I bleed to death.

RODERIGO

Will nobody come? I'm going to bleed to death.

LODOVICO

Hark!

LODOVICO

Look!

Enter IAGO

IAGO enters.

GRATIANO

Here’s one comes in his shirt, with light and weapons.

GRATIANO

Here comes someone in his night shirt, with a light and weapons.

IAGO

Who’s there? Whose noise is this that ones on murder?

IAGO

Who's there? Whose voice is it that keeps saying murder?

LODOVICO

We do not know.

LODOVICO

We don't know.

IAGO

Do not you hear a cry?

IAGO

Don't you hear a cry?

CASSIO

Here, here! For heaven’s sake, help me!

CASSIO

Over here! For heaven's sake, help me!

IAGO

What’s the matter?

IAGO

What's the matter?

GRATIANO

[To LODOVICO] This is Othello’s ancient, as I take it.

GRATIANO

[To LODOVICO] This is Othello's flag-bearer, I think.

LODOVICO

The same indeed, a very valiant fellow.

LODOVICO

This is him, a very brave man.

IAGO

[To CASSIO] What are you here that cry so grievously?

IAGO

[To CASSIO] Who are you that's crying out in such pain?

CASSIO

Iago? Oh, I am spoiled, undone by villains!Give me some help.

CASSIO

Iago? Oh, I have been ruined and undone by villains! Give me some help.

IAGO

Oh, me, lieutenant! What villains have done this?

IAGO

Oh my, lieutenant! What villains have done this?

CASSIO

I think that one of them is hereabout,And cannot make away.

CASSIO

I think one of them is around here, and cannot run away.

IAGO

Oh, treacherous villains!— [To LODOVICO and GRATIANO] What are you there? Come in, and give some help.

IAGO

Oh, treacherous villains!

[To LODOVICO and GRATIANO] Who are you over there? Come here and give some help.

RODERIGO

Oh, help me there!

RODERIGO

Oh, help me!

CASSIO

That’s one of them.

CASSIO

That's one of the villains that did this to me.

IAGO

O murd'rous slave! O villain!

IAGO

Oh, murdering scoundrel! Oh, villain!

Stabs RODERIGO

IAGO stabs RODERIGO.

RODERIGO

O damned Iago! O inhuman dog!

RODERIGO

Oh, damned Iago! You inhuman dog!

IAGO

Kill men i' th' dark! Where be these bloody thieves? How silent is this town!— Ho! murder! murder!— What may you be? Are you of good or evil?

IAGO

Where are these bloody thieves who are killing men in the dark? This town is so silent! Hey! Murder! Murder! Who are you? Are you good or evil?

LODOVICO

As you shall prove us, praise us.

LODOVICO

Judge us by our actions.

IAGO

Signior Lodovico?

IAGO

Sir Lodovico?

LODOVICO

He, sir.

LODOVICO

That's me, sir.

IAGO

I cry you mercy. Here’s Cassio hurt by villains.

IAGO

I ask for your forgiveness. This here is Cassio, hurt by some villains.

GRATIANO

Cassio!

GRATIANO

Cassio!

IAGO

How is ’t, brother!

IAGO

How are you, brother?

CASSIO

My leg is cut in two.

CASSIO

My leg has been cut in half.

IAGO

Marry, heaven forbid! Light, gentlemen, I’ll bind it with my shirt.

IAGO

No, heaven forbid! Gentlemen, give me some light so I can bind the wound with my shirt.

Enter BIANCA

BIANCA enters.

BIANCA

What is the matter, ho? Who is ’t that cried?

BIANCA

Hey, what is the matter? Who is it that cried out?

IAGO

Who is ’t that cried?

IAGO

Who is it that cried out?

BIANCA

Oh, my dear Cassio!My sweet Cassio! O Cassio, Cassio, Cassio!

BIANCA

Oh, my dear Cassio! My sweet Cassio! Oh, Cassio, Cassio, Cassio!

IAGO

O notable strumpet! Cassio, may you suspect Who they should be that have thus mangled you?

IAGO

You notorious whore! Cassio, do you have any idea who attacked you?

CASSIO

No.

CASSIO

No.

GRATIANO

I am sorry to find you thus. I have been to seek you.

GRATIANO

I am sorry to find you like this. I've been out looking for you.

IAGO

Lend me a garter. So.—Oh, for a chair,To bear him easily hence!

IAGO

Lend me a stocking. There. Oh, if only we had a chair, to carry him off easily!

BIANCA

Alas, he faints! O Cassio, Cassio, Cassio!

BIANCA

Alas, he is fainting! Oh, Cassio, Cassio, Cassio!

IAGO

Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash To be a party in this injury.— Patience awhile, good Cassio.— Come, come, Lend me a light. Know we this face or no? Alas, my friend and my dear countryman Roderigo! No—yes, sure! Yes, ’tis Roderigo.

IAGO

All of you gentlemen, I suspect that this piece of trash has played a role in Cassio's injury. Hold on just a bit, good Cassio. Come on, give me some light. Do we know this face or not? Alas, it is my friend and my dear countryman Roderigo! No, it can't be—yes, it is for sure! Yes, it's Roderigo.

Sir Gratiano, is that you? I beg your pardon. This bloody incident has made it so that I couldn't treat you with proper manners.

GRATIANO

I am glad to see you.

GRATIANO

I am glad to see you.

IAGO

How do you, Cassio?—Oh, a chair, a chair!

IAGO

Are you okay, Cassio? Oh, we need a chair, a chair!

GRATIANO

Roderigo!

GRATIANO

Roderigo!

IAGO

He, he, ’tis he.

IAGO

It's him, yes, him

A chair is brought in

A chair is brought onstage.

Oh, that’s well said—the chair! Some good man bear him carefully from hence. I’ll fetch the general’s surgeon.— (to BIANCA) For you, mistress, Save you your labor.—He that lies slain here, Cassio, Was my dear friend. What malice was between you?

Ah, well done, the chair! Some good man carry him away carefully. I'll go get the general's doctor.

[To BIANCA] As for you, mistress, don't bother trying to help. Cassio, the man who lies murdered here was my dear friend. What bad blood was there between the two of you?

CASSIO

None in the world, nor do I know the man.

CASSIO

None at all, and I don't even know him.

IAGO

[To BIANCA] What, look you pale?—Oh, bear him out o' the air.—

IAGO

[To BIANCA] What, are you looking pale? Someone carry him off.

CASSIO and RODERIGO are borne off

CASSIO and RODERIGO are carried off.

Do you perceive the gastness of her eye?—Stay you, goodgentlemen.—Look you pale, mistress?— Nay, if you stare, we shall hear more anon.— Behold her well. I pray you, look upon her. Do you see, gentlemen? Nay, guiltiness Will speak, though tongues were out of use.

Do you see the fright in her eyes? Stay here, good gentlemen. Do you look a little pale, mistress? Keep watching her; we'll hear more about what happened soon. Watch her carefully. I beg you, look at her. Do you see, gentlemen? Guiltiness speaks, even when the guilty person holds his or her tongue.

Enter EMILIA

EMILIA enters.

EMILIA

Alas, what is the matter? What is the matter, husband?

EMILIA

Alas, what is the matter? What is the matter, husband?

IAGO

Cassio hath here been set on in the dark By Roderigo and fellows that are ’scaped. He’s almost slain, and Roderigo dead.

IAGO

Cassio has been attacked here in the dark by Roderigo and some men who have run away. Cassio was almost killed, and Roderigo is dead.

EMILIA

Alas, good gentleman! Alas, good Cassio!

EMILIA

Alas, he was a good gentleman! And alas, poor Cassio!

IAGO

This is the fruits of whoring. Prithee, Emilia,Go know of Cassio where he supped tonight.— [To BIANCA] What, do you shake at that?

IAGO

This is what you get from whoring around. Please, Emilia, go ask Cassio where he had dinner tonight.

[To BIANCA] Why do you shake with worry at that?

BIANCA

He supped at my house, but I therefore shake not.

BIANCA

He had dinner at my house, but that's not why I'm shaking.

IAGO

Oh, did he so? I charge you, go with me.

IAGO

Oh did he? I order you, come with me.

EMILIA

Oh, fie upon thee, strumpet!

EMILIA

Oh, shame on you, whore!

BIANCA

I am no strumpet, but of life as honestAs you that thus abuse me.

BIANCA

I am no whore. I am as chaste as you who accuse me.

EMILIA

As I! Fie upon thee!

EMILIA

As chaste as me? Shame on you!

IAGO

Kind gentlemen, let’s go see poor Cassio dressed.— Come, mistress, you must tell ’s another tale. Emilia, run you to the citadel And tell my lord and lady what hath happed.— Will you go on afore? (aside) This is the night That either makes me or fordoes me quite.

IAGO

Kind gentlemen, let's go make sure poor Cassio's wounds get tended to. Come on, mistress, you must tell us another story. Emilia, run to the castle and tell Othello and Desdemona what has happened. Will you go on ahead?

[To himself] This is the night that either makes me, or utterly ruins me.

Ben is a co-founder of LitCharts. He holds a BA in English Literature from Harvard University, where as an undergraduate he won the Winthrop Sargent prize for best undergraduate paper on a topic related to Shakespeare.